a children's prayer [republished from March 26, 2012]

Sunday... a prayer to God... following the children's message...

...be the Fingers that squeeze us that we might spring to life...

The illustration... a spring... pressed down... released... flying free...

Thoughts jump to the stumbling week... the me... too big... needing to be pressed small...

Maybe... God's fingers are gently pressing... now... prodding... nudging... to a new level of growth... even more new life... maybe... this is a good thing... a grace... as Ann Voskamp teaches...

...all is grace...

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

2Cointhians 4:7-11

Lord... help me receive Your pressing down... Your discipline... with joy... help me recognize the grace and the good behind each squeeze... the revealing of You in me...

transformation [republished from December 27, 2011]

Jesus makes us someone else...
every day...
Weird compared to the world...
outcast in some ways... less socially acceptable...

But other days...
dark days...
days of loss... pain... death...
other days...
Jesus makes us desired...
light in dark...

You hear... Show me the way...

Slow change...
little by little...
changed from dark to light...
in the world but not of the world...
Jesus makes us some one else...

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, 
are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, 
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2Corinthians 3:18

staying malleable...

She said it Sunday... during the sermon... referring to the potter's work on the wheel...

The clay cannot get too dry or it cannot be fashioned...

I think about Him... in the Scripture being discussed...

But now, O Lord, you are our Father;

we are the clay, and you are our potter;

we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8 ESV

He is our Potter... we... all of us... works in His hand...

The thought comes... We must stay filled with Living Water to be malleable in His hands... without the Holy Spirit we cannot be transformed...

Without Jesus... who makes the way for the Spirit... there is no transformation... no real healing... no complete restoration...

"...Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 

'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" ---Jesus

John 7:38 ESV

The rivers of Living Water... flowing from within... keep us moist... workable... in the Potter's hand...

The Holy Spirit... provides the counsel... conviction... and capacity... for change...

Without Him... we are simply stiff-necked... 

breaking...

cracking... 

rather than reshaping... under His hand...

Jesus said it Himself...

"... It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. ..."

John 6:63 ESV

Self-help... will-power... useless... when it comes to lasting change...

Only through trust... obedience... and an abiding life in Him... can the Holy Spirit flow... preparing our hearts... souls... lives... to be transformed... wholly redeemed... in the Father's hands...

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, 

give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Do not quench the Spirit. 

Do not despise prophecies, but test everything;

hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely,

and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless

at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

1Thessalonians 5:16-24 ESV

are you willing to hear...?

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts...

Hebrews 3:7-8 Amp

Are you willing to hear... what He has to say each day...? each moment...?

...the real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.

---CS Lewis, Mere Christianity 

This willingness... to hear and obey... forms the basis for the transformation He wants to do in your life...

First thing in the morning... and every moment after...
becomes a battleground...
Who will you hear...?
Your own fears... frets... desires... or His call...

I faced this battle myself... just this morning...
a choice to make...
Will I hear...?

The choice leads to an end... either way...

If you refuse to hear... your heart hardens...
the rocks of fear... worry... wants... become planted...
no room for roots to grow...

Eventually... the whole of the heart becomes paved...
a hard path... where the Word sits...
and the enemy steals...

The choice to hear Him...
and choose His eternal perspective...
leads to a heart like His...

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil,

unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today,"

that none should be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:12-13 ESV

Consider yourself exhorted... truth spoken in love...

Choose to listen... and obey... first thing... every day... and every... moment... after...

like the morning and evening...

You make the going out

of the morning and the evening

to shout for joy.

Psalm 65:8 ESV

Lord... make me... 

like the morning... and evening...

each day...

Rising... and setting...

going out...

with shouts... of joy...!

translation...

I read it Monday... chasing Scripture references... in the reading through...

Reminded of it today...
as yesterday's gray...
gives way to a bright sunny day...

The Genesis walk of Enoch... right out of this world... into God's... sent me to Hebrews 11... the hall of faithful...

Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God.

Hebrews 11:5 Amp

...he did not have a glimpse of death... 

...because God translated him...

And King James... says it like this...

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death;

and was not found, because God had translated him:

for before his translation he had this testimony,

that he pleased God.

Hebrews 11:5 KJV

translation... according to Webster's... to bear, remove, or change from one place, state, form, or appearance to another... transfer... transform...

A definition I thought I knew... always having to to do with language... understanding... but no... it goes deeper... translation... of form...

The gray... and drizzle... of yesterday...

with temperatures hovering around freezing...

left many of the raindrops... up in the trees...

branches... leaves... pine needles...

coated... with... ice...

hanging...

frozen...

But today... gray giving way...

sun shines...

temperatures rise...

and I see...

and hear...

translation...

Rain frozen on trees...

sounds like showers...

as it releases the freeze...

translation...

Rain to ice... ice to rain... continued its journey... to the ground...

And this transformation sends thoughts back to Enoch...

the first... to be translated by God... right into eternal life...

by faith...

And He sent the Word... to translate more hearts... lives...

that they too... might miss the glimpse of death...

I begin to see... translation... anew...

the translation that comes through the Word...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

"...Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word

and believes him who sent me has eternal life.

He does not come into judgement, 

but has passed from death to life ..." ---Jesus

John 5:24 ESV

Translation... it comes through the Word...

weary... to rested...

hungry... to satisfied...

thirsty... to quenched...

translation...

In Christ... we step right through... 

into eternal life...

by faith...

And all life... it comes from Him... 

but here in the dark of the world... 

we need translation...

dark... to light...

death... to life...

in order to continue... our journey... back to Him...

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

through whom we have gained access by faith

into this grace in which we now stand.

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:1-2

Father God... translate... me...

first steps on a new journey... surprised by joy...

Today... the first steps taken in a new journey... a new ministry of sorts...

A journey through Scripture... the whole... over three years... together with others... in a Sunday School class... aptly named...

The Journey

When the inspiration first came... I shared the thought... thinking the idea would be shot down by others who knew better... but no... it was embraced... encouraged...

Moving forward... presenting the thought to those who could Yea or Nay the proposal... and these several months later... the day to begin came...

What has struck me as odd about this particular call... is me... and the way my heart has responded...

Past calls... have left me feeling fear... No not this... Really...? responding with obedience... just because... I had no other choice... because He says so... I will...

So today... and the past several days... the overriding feeling came as a surprise... joy... accompanied by... excitement... no fear... no dread... (even though the Kindle was packed... just in case I found myself in an empty room...)

Something... has shifted... in my relationship with Him... something healed... redeemed... in my heart... because this is weird... this is not me... who faces a call... an unknown... with joy... and... excitement...

In this odd revelation... I find my heart... filled with song... literally...

You're altogether lovely

Altogether worthy

Altogether wonderful to me

Here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down

Here I am to say that You're my God

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Praising You... for what You're up to in me...

I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord;

apart from you I have no good thing."

Psalm 16:2

thoughts spurred by finishing...

Today... the reading through... finished for the year...

Ending with Revelation... led to thoughts of... suffering... endurance...

This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.

Revelation 13:10 NLT

This means that God's holy people must endure 

persecution patiently, obeying his commands 

and maintaining their faith in Jesus.

Revelation 14:12 NLT

Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!

Revelation 14:13 NLT

Suffering... endurance... it's required... in these end times...

Thoughts turned to a startling passage heard recently in an audio-book...

A man I know was one of the few doctors who specialized in his area in Ethiopia at a time when Christians were often persecuted there. Because of his medical specialty, he was well-known and carefully watched and sometimes privileged. Because of his faith, he was in prison several times. The small church he was part of was vibrant. They shared everything. When they gathered for worship, with shades drawn, their joy was intense. Their knowledge of the details of each others' lives was far deeper than I have seen in any churches I know of in the United States. They lived in constant danger of arrest. There was no such thing in their world as a nominal Christian; that would be like becoming a nominal chain saw juggler. ...

I talked with this doctor about the government. I said that he must pray often for the persecution and suffering to stop. He asked me with no apparent irony, "Why should I pray to be relieved of suffering?" I could not think of a good answer.

--- John Ortberg, Who Is This Man?  (emphasis added)

Suffering... endurance... is it to be... embraced... welcomed...?

The Greek... hupomone... translated... endure persecution patiently... means... steadfastness... constancy... in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings...

This word (hupomone) also found in... 

And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent the honest, good-hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it, and patiently (hupomone) produce a huge harvest.

Luke 8:15 NLT

By standing firm (hupomone), you will win your souls.

Luke 21:19 NLT

He will give eternal life to those who keep on (hupomone) 

doing good, seeking after the glory and honor 

and immortality that God offers.

Romans 2:7 NLT

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance (hupomone).

Romans 5:3 NLT

Endurance... suffering... produces a huge harvest... wins your soul... gains eternal life... enables us to receive trials with joy...

Endurance... suffering... it is necessary... to spiritual growth... but to receive it... embrace it... with joy... that is a world-view shift... counter to culture... upside down... from the way of the world...

As I anticipate the journey... into the next year... with a heart to keep the Babe in the manger at the center... I see where the revelation of His vulnerability... leads to the acceptance... of suffering... and... endurance...

A son asked me today... about a physical state... one I've suffered with for three years now... and most likely will endure as long as I inhabit this earthly tent...

Is it easier... than it was...?

Honestly... I had to reply... No... it's harder... it's wearing...

And I see where I need to change my thoughts about this physical challenge... as minimal as it is compared to the challenges of so many of others... I still whine... on occasion... 

So endurance... suffering... of any kind... should be seen as a gift... and reminders set in place... in order to remember... for those who endure... it all leads to good... and His glory...

A world-view shift... for the new year... Why should I pray to be relieved of suffering?

For even Christ didn't live to please himself. 

...

And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement 

as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled.

Romans 15:3-4 NLT

no need to strive...

The sisters in study and I finished one today... a study about His love for His people... particularly His love for woman... the daughters of Eve...

It has changed me... (I hope for good...)

The name of the study... Captivating... reflects how He sees all women...

I never really believed it before... but now... in a place where jealousy... striving... would raise its head in my heart... I feel no need...

All I sense is a peace and joy... for those who might formerly been seen as competitors...

Today... I believe... truly... that He finds me captivating... a treasured song of joy in His heart...

And as I've slowly come to accept my acceptance in Him... it fills my heart... soul... with peace... confidence... of my place... of who I am... and what He is doing in me...

He is enough... His love... ENOUGH...

No need to strive... for His love... attention...

No need to strive... for others to acknowledge... applaud...

No need... but to rest... in His love... for me...

So the King will greatly desire your beauty;

Because He is your Lord, worship Him.

Psalm 45:11 NKJV

He feels the same for you... 

All His created beings... male and female... He created them... in His own image...

Not only does He fill us... but we fill Him... when we respond to His call... when we trust that He is enough...

Whether you are equipped with a beauty to unveil... or a courageous spirit to rescue... He longs to be your all in all...

Will you let Him... prove His love for you...?

It's true... taste and see...

Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Psalm 63:3-5

learning to live... shame-less...

Shame-less... free from shame...

For so long... I've been walking under the influence of shame...

Uncomfortable... with His call on my life... self-conscious...

How awful... to be so uncomfortable... with what He calls me to... simply because I would prefer a person to call me to the task... validate... what I do...

It's much easier to explain the why of the doing by saying: So-and-so asked me to... rather than... God asked me to...

Minimizing His call in my life... like it's not enough... like it's a stigma...

How truly shame-full... is that...?!

Worrying whether others think I'm raising myself up...

But now... this pouring out... this humble act of self-promoting... has begun to free me... from the fear of man...

Freeing because... to self-promote... I must die to self...

I see now... REPENT NOW... of my shame-full attitude... of the works He has called me to...

The act of obedience... telling others... at His prompting... has revealed my shame of Him... in all it's glory... and has taught me... to release the fear of man... fully embrace fear of Him... and be shame-less...

Thank-full for the lesson...
His grace...
His forgiveness...

Really... it's just too much...

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom.

Psalm 145:3

[Related fare...

taking the next step... with fear and trembling...

a new release...

pouring out...]

sanctification... an unbinding...

Sunday's sermon led to thoughts... (click here... to read them in full...)

John 11:32-44... the raising of Lazarus from the dead... the basis for the message...

The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

John 11:44 ESV

Lazarus rose from the dead still bound in his graveclothes... quite a contrast to Jesus's resurrection...

Then Simon Peter came... and went into the tomb. 

He saw linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, 

which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths 

but folded up in a place by itself.

John 20:6-7 ESV

Jesus left His shroud behind in the tomb... He walked out completely free...

The thought that we... in our spiritual resurrection... stand in Lazarus's place has left an impression... and I see the sanctification process... the growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ... as the way we become unbound... making the way for us to truly live as new creations... even though we find ourself in the same body... and in the same place...

The reading on the treadmill this morning... put words to this thought...

When people ask me what it looks like to follow Jesus, I usually say that following Him looks like dealing with all of the issues everyone else does --- disappointments, tremendous joy, uncertainty, the whole bit --- and having your mind change all the time as you learn how Jesus would've dealt with things. Following Jesus is about having your paradigms shift as you navigate a wide range of emotions while living the big life Jesus invites us into. Because I know Jesus, where I once thought of things in one way, now I think of them in another way. It happens all the time, every day.

--- Bob Goff, Love Does

We still deal with all the same issues as everyone else... but something is different... we begin to think about things differently... respond... even react differently... than we would have... we become unbound... loosed... from the ways of the world...

Jesus... He's the one that loosens what binds... following Him... and allowing Him to work in and through us... dying to our own ideas and the ideas of the world... is how we become freer and freer... to be who He calls us to be... who He created us to be...

This unbinding... begins in our minds... learning to look at things... and react to things... as Jesus does...

... be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2 ESV

at peace... with imperfection...

I find myself in an odd place lately...
at peace... with imperfection...

Odd for me... as a perfectionist... who generally finds worth... in how well I do...

But God has been at work... in the current study with sisters...
a healing work...
transforming one who feels unworthy...
to one who accepts... her worth... in Christ...

A healing that has helped me... accept His acceptance... of me...
not based on performance...
but on His love...

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,

but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, 

by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

Romans 8:15

Sons... children... of the Father... unlike slaves... their worth is not dependent... on their work...

Children belong... and are treasured... no matter what... 

They may be disciplined... but those who love the Father... to the best of their ability... will be loved back... far beyond... anything... they could ask... or imagine...

Of course... I come to know this transformation...

as I've come face to face...

with my own... imperfections... today...

Even in my best efforts...

the imperfect appears...

but does not stir... my heart to fear...

Yes...
an odd place to be... for me...
at peace... with imperfection...

Good... but odd...

joyful waiting...?

I sense a change in perspective lately... one that surprises me... causes flesh to squirm... resist... this new posture... attitude...

You see... I'm waiting for many things...
big things... eternal things...
salvation of loved ones...
deliverance of others... from fears... and sins...
Things that generally make my heart lean toward worry...

But what I sense lately... the posture God is calling me to take... is one of joyful waiting... choosing anticipation... over worry... and doubt...

I see myself... waiting joyfully... against a door...
waiting for the moment... with expectation... certainty...
like for the arrival of the honored guest at a surprise party...

This stance is new for my heart... the heart that can come up with the worst case scenario of any given situation... the heart that chooses half-empty... over half-full...

But I feel it... joy... seeping through... turning care-full concern... into biblical hope... a faith-full hope... expectant... it will happen... I just don't know when...

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

The funny thing about this hope... is that it fuels my prayer for the anticipated joy... intercession fueled by expectation...

Much different from the worry... when doubt... caused me to avoid prayer... give up on asking... futility the overwhelming emotion...

Who would have thought...?

So now... I choose... to surrender... to this call... of joy-full waiting... hope-full waiting...

And hope does not disappoint us,

because God has poured out his love into our hearts

by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:5

Lord... help me to resist the call of my flesh to worry... and rest in Your call of joyful waiting...

more thoughts... from the teaching on grace...

The teaching on Saturday... continues to impact heart... and spirit...

Her descriptions... of law... vs...grace...

Law is consumed with behavior...

Grace is consumed with beholding...

I find myself... seeing... hearing... the difference... between law... and grace...

When I'm focused on behavior... mine or others... I'm living under the law... that which I've died to... that which Christ fulfilled...

Law is self-centered... constantly judging behavior... my own... and others' compared to mine... or how their behavior... affects me...

But grace... it simply beholds... with wonder... all that Jesus did... does... and will do...

Grace... looks not at self... but Him... seeing the power to transform... not just me... but others... power to use all for good... and for His glory...

A life under grace... beholds... with wonder... peace... love...

I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory.

Psalm 63:2

That glory... grace...

Lord... keep me focused on You and Your glorious grace...

beholding You... not behavior...

overwhelmed...

Today... I find myself... overwhelmed...
by the Gathering...
its beauty...
diversity...
simplicity...

And the power... of the message... the Good News...
that is the Rock... on which He builds...

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters,

stand firm. Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully

to the work of the Lord,

because you know

that your labor in the Lord

is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

whew...

Another Summit... a day spent absorbing world-class leadership training...

The message... it pierces the heart... with...
conviction...
encouragement...
inspiration...

My heart hears...
You cannot stay quiet...
Compassion... an inviolable value...
Get over self-consciousness...
This is not about me...
Pour it out...
Do not be a poser...

All delivered... in an atmosphere of grace... and love...

The resounding reminder...

Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

for the Lord your God

will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 NIV

All a much needed reminder...

Whew... there's another day tomorrow...

Lord... make room in my heart... mind... will... for MORE...

do not allow me... to go away... unchanged...

the key...

The key to doing for Him...
is to look to Him...

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus

the author and perfecter of our faith...

Hebrews 12:2

(emphasis added)

fix... to make firm, stable, or stationary

...fix our eyes on... translated from the Greek... aphorao... to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something...

Fixing eyes on Jesus... means seeing only Him... being mind-full... of Him... His Word... when doing what He has put on our heart...

The more we look at... to... self... (feelings... strengths... weaknesses...) the more prone we are to question... doubt... fear... fail to be obedient... in serving...

Reminded... recently... experienced... recently... the ease with which serving... in obedience... comes... when I refuse... to think about me... and look to Him...

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

anticipation...

The time away… comes to a close…

What comes to mind… commitments… plans… made before… things that seemed far away… but now are near…

Commitments that stir up anxiety… and wonder… 

Why… did I say… I would…?

Fear… tries to creep in… to plans made by faith… here is where I need to replace fear with JOY… no longer dread… but remember and cling to… the call that I heard to commit… to remember… that I am not in these things alone… that even if I misheard the call… He will not leave me or forsake me… and He has power to correct my faith-filled missteps...

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 NASB

The desire to stay away… needs to be transformed into anticipation… to serve… in love… with joy… to join with Him… not look at me… to WAIT… on Him…

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before Him with joyful singing.

Know that the Lord Himself is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Psalm 100:2-3 NASB

Father God… transform fear… to joy… dread… to excitement… to serve… be useful… to You… and Your kingdom…

reasons to wait... joy-fully... on the Lord...

The desire... to wait on Him... in all things... at all times... in all places... continues to challenge... needs reminders... and reasons... to transform a mind... conformed... to the world...

His Word... provides the truth... the impetus... to renew... redeem... a wayward thought life...

Read Psalm 136... 
[no Bible at hand...? place the cursor on the Bible reference... and click...]

Do you see what's interjected between every line...?

After every character trait...? after every action...?

His love endures forever.

Other translations include...

His love is eternal.

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

...for his steadfast love endures forever.

For his mercy endureth forever.

The Hebrew... hesed... according to the Dictionary of Biblical Languages... is defined as... loyal love, unfailing kindness, devotion, i.e., a love or affection that is based on a prior relationship...

...everlasting lovingkindness... enduring mercy... steadfast love... unending devotion... 

Every aspect of His character... every action... is motivated... flows from... His unceasing love... for His creation...

His unbelievable love for us... is the reason... to wait joyfully on Him...

Our joyful response...

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1

Where have you recognized His love... mercy... today...?
Thank Him...

Even if it's been a bad day... a really bad day... could you by faith... thank Him... for His love... that endures... forever...? trust... His love... even when you don't feel it...?

a taste of discipleship

Obedience... abiding... self-denial... the three-strand cord... of discipleship...

Obedience... requires abiding... without abiding... resting in Him... we do not know what He wants us to do... and are unable to do it apart from Him...

"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:5-6 HCSB

Obedience... requires self-denial... at times laying aside fear...

"...I said, 'You are my servant';

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ..."

Isaiah 41:9b-10 

...at other times... laying down pride...

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:10

Today... a taste of both...

But in the test... and rest... of abiding... I find peace... and joy... at seeing less of me... and more of Him...

"My Father is glorified by this:

that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples. ..."

John 15:8 HCSB